Deborah Green is a woman of passionate contradictions, a rabbi struggling with her own doubts and desires. Her life changes when she visits the hospital room of Henry Friedman, an older man who has attempted suicide. His parents were murdered in the Holocaust when he was a child, and all his life he has struggled with painful questions. Can happiness come after such loss, or does the very wish profane the dead? Can religious promises ever be fulfilled?

Deborah’s encounter with Henry draws her into his world, which includes his wife, Helen, a photographer fiercely devoted to her husband but frightened by him, too; his son, Lev, a science reporter who left his fiancée at the altar; and Lev’s best friend from childhood, Neal, whose life fell apart after a psychotic break. As Deborah and Lev fall in love, they strive to bind themselves to something sacred in the midst of modern chaos.

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Quotes & Awards

“Beautiful...[Joy Comes in the Morning] fills the reader with happiness at the most unexpected moments. Mr. Rosen leads the reader through his characters emotions with old-fashioned assurance, and his dual mastery of sincere religiosity and searing embarrassment promises an explosive future for the family romance.”

New York Sun

“Offers a rare and vibrant portrait of a contemporary Rabbi.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“Exquisitely attuned to the vagaries of the inner self and the richness of Jewish spirituality, Rosen has created a marvelously accessible and touching novel that is at once profoundly philosophical and simply radiant.”

Booklist

“Lorna Raver is a marvelous performer whose depth and ability to reveal character transform a beautifully written novel about a loving family into a rare listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

AudioFile

AudioFile Earphones Award

Listener Opinions

Peggy Hess Greenawalt | 11/23/2013

" We usde this in a book club...good discussion book and an interesting story. "

Karol | 10/8/2013

" Enjoyable look at family within the Jewish faith - and those who are still seeking to understand it "

Courtney | 9/18/2013

" Interesting looking into Jewish heritage and culture. "

Suzanne | 7/10/2013

" Pretty good book. Really enjoyed reading it. "

Lin | 4/18/2013

" A pleasant read. I read this for a course on Jewish American fiction, and I have to admit I don't remember it too well, but I remember liking to read it. "

Jill | 8/10/2012

" I enjoyed how the author brought Judaism into the everyday life of his characters. There are so many ways to be a Jew, and this book explored some of them. It made me think about how we deal with faith, doubt, science, and the past. "

Elke | 8/31/2010

" I liked the language in this book as well as the characters; all very real and believable. Also, it shines a light on various issues within the Jewish faith that one questions along the way. An easy read that invites to think. "

Sara | 6/1/2010

" Liked this a lot, though I wasn't sure I was going to. It ended up being a very complete story and I felt like I finished a spiritual journey, with the main characters, by the end. "

Sandra | 10/27/2009

" A comforting read. Spiritual turmoil even for those we often look up to. "

Elaine | 8/18/2009

" A young woman rabbi falls in love. "

Becca | 3/12/2009

" Thin characters. No plot. Self-indulgent, pointless ending. "

Callie Souther | 3/4/2009

" I know, that as a future female-Reform-Rabbi-to-be I'm supposed to be all about this book. But I'm not. If you do read it, know that not all of us are like her. Plus the story was a little trite. But I suppose it had its moments. "

Ellie Steinman | 10/25/2007

" Excellent story and well written! "

Emcp | 12/3/2006

" A sweet, yet also quite profound, story. A delightful read! "

Carmen | 11/10/2006

" Sheesh. I can barely remember the book. Why didn't it leave a dent on me? I am not soulless. "

Robert | 9/20/2006

" Really close up look at the personality and thought processes of a young female Reformed Jewish rabbi. As a father of daughters, as a man, as a husband, and as a Jew, I really found it interesting on many fronts. Great, believable characters and interesting family interactions "

Sellyndavies | 5/28/2006

" The story of a woman Reform rabbi and the family of a Holocaust survivor living in New York prior to 9/11. Rosen writes in an emotionally vivid way. "

Amanda | 3/16/2006

" I really enjoyed this book! It made me laugh out loud. While it wasn't exactly deep, it was thoughtfully written and had likeable characters. "

Sara | 1/23/2005

" This is a book that I can read over and over...it's not a very complicated story, but it's a great journey that I like taking. That, and I love the quote that the book is named after ("Darkness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning"). "

About the Author

Jonathan Rosen is the author of The Talmud and the Internet and Eve’s Apple. His essays have appeared in the New York Times, New Yorker, and American Scholar.

About the Narrator

Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie Award nominations and fifrteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. An experienced stage actress, she has also guest-starred on many top television series and starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell. Her numerous audiobook credits include The Age of Innocence, Up from Orchard Street, The Lodger, Selected Readings from the Portable Dorothy Parker, and Diamond Ruby.

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